Magazine fined for topless Kate photos

From Max Foster and Alex Felton, CNN

Updated 7:45 AM ET, Wed September 19, 2012

Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are carried as they bid farewell in Tuvalu on Wednesday, September 19. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge -- on a tour marking the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II -- are visiting Singapore, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. See more of CNN's best photography.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Local participants watch as the duke and duchess conclude the portion of their trip in Tuvalu on Wednesday.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William plays a local game called Te Ano on Tuesday, September 18, in Tuvalu.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William opens a coconut with a machete as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, watches on Tuesday in Tulavu.

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William and Kate visit Far East – The duke and duchess visit the University of the South Pacific in Tuvalu on Tuesday.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visits Nauti Primary School on Tuesday in Tuvalu.

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William and Kate visit Far East – The royal couple are carried from their plane to a welcoming ceremony in Tuvalu on Tuesday.

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William and Kate visit Far East – The duke and duchess dance with ladies at the Vaiku Falekaupule ceremony for an entertainment program on Tuesday in Tuvalu.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, prepares to dance at the Vaiku Falekaupule ceremony on Tuesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – The couple enjoy a traditional dinner at Tausoa Lima Falekaupule on Tuesday in Tuvalu.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, waves goodbye to onlookers as she and Prince William board a plane to leave the Solomon Islands from Honiara on Tuesday, September 18.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are carried from a boat to their plane Tuesday in Honiara, Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands as they continue their tour of the Far East.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William speak with traditional weavers during a visit to a village in the Solomon Islands on Monday, September 17.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, meet young well-wishers during a visit to the Coast Watcher and Solomon Scouts Memorial on Day Seven of their Diamond Jubilee Tour in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on Monday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William travel in a traditional canoe during a visit to Tuvanipupu Island in the Solomon Islands on Monday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are greeted by dancers as they visit Tuvanipupu Island in Honiara on Monday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – The royal couple visits Tuvanipupu Island in Honiara on Monday.

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William and Kate visit Far East – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge learn more about poverty and village life in the Solomon Islands.

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William and Kate visit Far East – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Burns Creek, a troubled community on the outskirts of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, inspects an honor guard as he arrives at Honiara International Airport in the Solomon Islands on Sunday, September 16.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wave to Solomon Islanders as they leave the airport aboard a truck decorated as a canoe in Honiara on Sunday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are greeted by Solomon Islanders on Sunday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William makes a speech at the Government House in Honiara on Sunday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit Assyakirin Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, September 14, Day Four of the royal couple's tour of the Far East.

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William and Kate visit Far East – The royal couple visits Assyakirin Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday.

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William and Kate visit Far East – The royal couple put their shoes on after visiting the KLCC Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

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William and Kate visit Far East – A crowd takes photos of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, as they walk in the KLCC gardens in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visits Assyakirin Mosque on Friday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend an official dinner hosted by Malaysia's Head of State Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah of Kedah at the Istana Negara on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The duchess' evening gown, by Alexander McQueen, features the Malaysian flower, hibiscus, in gold detail.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine talks to Sultanah Tuanku Haminah binti Hamidun, the Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia, during an official dinner hosted by Malaysia's sultan.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Britain's Prince William speaks with Linges Warry Apparad, a 14-year-old with leukemia, at Hospis Malaysia Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

William and Kate visit Far East – Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, meet Richard Robless, council member of Hospis Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Schoolchildren wave Malaysia national flags as Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at the Hospis Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on September 13, 2012.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit Kranji War Cemetery Thursday in Singapore.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, lay a wreath to pay their respects to WWII dead at the Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore Thursday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, glances back at war graves as she leaves Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery on the third day of her Diamond Jubilee Tour of the Far East with husband Prince William on Thursday, September 13 in Singapore.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine signs the visitors' book at Eden Hall on Wednesday.

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William and Kate visit Far East – The signatures of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (not pictured) mark their visit on Wednesday.

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William and Kate visit Far East – The royal couple visit Gardens by the Bay on Wednesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – The couple look out over a balcony at Gardens by the Bay on Wednesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – The duke and duchess pose for a picture with children as they visit The Rainbow Centre in Singapore.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William and Catherine pose with 4-year-old Maeve Low as they tour the Rolls-Royce Seletar Campus during the Diamond Jubilee tour at Seletar Aerospace Park on Wednesday, September 12, the second day of their Diamond Jubilee tour in Singapore.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

will n kate 10 – The duke and duchess applaud as they visit The Rainbow Centre.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Bystanders crane for photos of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to Strathmore Green, a precinct in Queenstown, a residential district of Singapore on Wednesday.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine and Prince William watch demonstrations as they attend a cultural event in Queenstown on Wednesday.

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William and Kate visit Far East – A young girl gives flowers to Catherine on Wednesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine and Prince William watch a performance by the Sunda Pajajaran group on Wednesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William speaks to a child in the crowd on Wednesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William, right, and wife Catherine are welcomed by a lion dance performance on Wednesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William and Catherine tour the Rolls Royce plant on Wednesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Prince William and Catherine visit Gardens by the Bay on Wednesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine greets a child during a visit to The Rainbow Centre, a children's learning center, on Wednesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, meets children at Gardens by the Bay on day two of her Asia visit with husband, Prince William, Wednesday in Singapore.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, meets children at Gardens by the Bay Wednesday in Singapore.

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William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine, Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, arrives at Gardens by the Bay Wednesday in Singapore.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – The royal couple is greeted at the airport on Tuesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – After their arrival Tuesday Catherine and her husband, Prince William, visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – Catherine leaves Singapore Botanic Gardens after visiting on Tuesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – William stops to speak to an honor guard on arrival at the Istana, home of Singapore's president and working office of the prime minister, during the Diamond Jubilee tour on Tuesday.

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Photos: William and Kate visit Far East61 photos

William and Kate visit Far East – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana for a state dinner on the first day of their Diamond Jubilee tour in Singapore. See more of CNN's best photography.

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Story highlights

Irish Daily Star is conducting investigation before deciding whether to shut down

Catherine and Prince William "welcome" the injunction, the palace says

A court orders Closer magazine to hand over the photos within 24 hours

The royals have also filed a criminal complaint in France

A French magazine has been fined for publishing topless photographs of Britain's likely future queen, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and ordered not to distribute the magazine in print or online, a French court ruled Tuesday.

The court ordered Closer magazine to hand over the original photos to the royal family within 24 hours of the ruling and to pay them 2,000 euros (about $2,600).

The magazine must pay a further 10,000 euros a day if it is late in handing over the photos.

And a French prosecutor opened a preliminary criminal investigation into the incident, the Nanterre prosecutor's office said Tuesday.

Catherine and her husband, Prince William, the second in line to the throne, "welcome the injunction that's been granted. They always believed the law was broken and that they were entitled to their privacy," the palace said.

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French law provides for "draconian sanctions" to protect against invasions of privacy, British lawyer Charlotte Harris said, including orders to take magazines off shelves and the imposition of serious fines.

Separately, the board of a newspaper that published the topless photos is conducting an internal investigation. The board of the Irish Daily Star was considering shutting down the newspaper but decided to await the investigation results, which are expected in "a few weeks."

The royal family filed a criminal complaint seeking invasion of privacy charges against Closer and possibly the photographer, a palace spokeswoman said.

The photos of Catherine sunbathing are more about invasion of privacy rather than nudity, royal biographer Christopher Andersen said.

Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry, still blame the media for the 1997 death of their mother, Princess Diana, in a Paris traffic accident as her driver fled paparazzi, Andersen said. French investigators concluded the driver of the car Diana was traveling in lost control while he was intoxicated.

The royal family is concerned about similar invasions, particularly if William and Catherine have a child, Andersen said.

In a civil court proceeding Monday in Paris, attorneys for the royals asked for damages and a court order to prevent the photos from being published again.

They also want existing photos taken offline, a palace spokesman said.

The court ruled in their favor on both counts Tuesday.

Lawyer Aurelien Hamelle denounced the published photos in court Monday, calling them an infringement of privacy, CNN affiliates reported.

"It is a scene of married life, intimate, personal, that has nothing to do on a magazine," Hamelle said.

Chi, an Italian magazine owned by the same company as Closer, put out a special edition Monday with 26 pages of photos of William and Catherine on vacation.

As editors at Closer did last week, Chi executives defended publishing the photos despite the furor from London.

"It is a story worth publishing in an extraordinary edition because it shows in a natural light the everyday life of a very famous contemporary young couple in love," Editor-in-Chief Alfonso Signorini said in a statement.

Chi and Closer are owned by the Mondadori publishing company, which is headed by Marina Berlusconi, daughter of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.